Trunk



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. B. GWYN.

TRUNK.

(No Model.)

No. 513,011. Patented Jan. 16,1894.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

TRUNK.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

TATES ATENT TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,011, dated January 16 1894.

Application filed May 4,1893. Serial No. 473,018. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER B. GWYN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashevil1e,in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to trunks, and trays therefor, and it consists in providing the trunk with a novelly constructed longitudinally movable tray, with means for supporting the tray when drawn outward, and means for pre- Venting the tray being drawn outward too far, and its inner end from tilting or rising when drawn outward, and it further consists in constructing the trunk in such a manner as to permit the tray to be slid inward and outward without increasing the relative sizes of trunks, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is aside elevation of the trunk, tray, tray frame, and supporting bail, showing their general construction and operation. Fig. 2 is a section in the line as w of Fig. 1. looking toward the end of the trunk. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, showing the trunk in a closed condition. Fig.4 is alongitudinal section through the trunk the trunk being open and the cover and body portion of the same cutaway. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a portion of the tray frame showing the shape of the supporting bail and the groove in the outer end of the tray frame for receiving the bail. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the tray and a portion of the trunk, the tray frame in this in stance being dispensed with. Fig. 7 is a section through a portion of the tray and tray frame in the liney yof Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section in the line ,2 z of Fig. 5. Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, are vertical sections through a portion of the tray, tray frame and trunk, showing modifications of means for preventing the inner end of tray frame rising or tilting when drawn out. i

In the drawings, Arepresents my improved trunk body, which may be of the usual dimensions and general appearance, with the exception of the changes now to be described.

A portion, a, of one end of the trunk, is preferably cut away to a depth about equal to the depth of the tray frame D, so as to permit the same to be set down into the body of the trunk and have its upper surface flush with, or slightly below the top edge of the trunk, and to permit it to be 'slid longitudinally out of and into the trunk, as shown. The outer exposed surface of the tray frame will be finished to give it the appearance ofthe rest of the exterior surface of the trunk. One of the lower inner corners, b, of the top, B, of the trunk is cut away, when necessary, to permit the tray, 0, to be slid out of, and into the trunk, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The tray rests on the tray frame, D, and the tray frame rests and slides on a support, E, arranged on theinside of the body of the trunk, a short distance below the upper edge thereof. The upwardly extending ends of the side portion of the trunk at the cut away portion are protected by metal protecting and strengthening pieces a. 0n the inside of the cut away portion of the trunk is provided a stop, a preferably a metal strip, say one inch wide, which extends upward a sufficient distance to catch the back bottom cross piece of the tray frame, and prevent the trayframe being drawn outward too far and thus becoming disconnected from the trunk, but does not interfere with the tray resting squarely on said tray frame and passing freely over it. If desired, the tray frame may be provided with rollers to facilitate its movement, or the support, E, may be provided with rollers for the same purpose.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, I have shown different means for preventing the tray frame being slid out too far and becoming disconnected from the trunk, and also for preventing the rear end of the tray frame rising.

when said tray is drawn out and the centerof Z-shaped metal straps, cl, are secured to the under side of the tray frame, their lower bent portions embracing'the under side of the support, E. In each of the above cases, upward slots may be provided at suitable places for lifting the tray frame out when desired. In Fig. 12, metal strips, cl, are secured on the top edge of the trunk, and extend over the upper edge of the tray frame,which prevent the tray.

frame rising as in the other constructions, but permit it to slide freely in and out. These metal strips need not extend the full length of the trunk, but only a short distance from the cut away end, so that the tray frame can, by lifting the back end of it, he slid out the other way when it is desirable to disconnect it with or from the trunk.

F. represents a bail-like supporting drop rod or bar, which is hinged at a suitable point on the tray frame in a manner as willnow be described for the purpose of supporting the tray frame and tray when drawn outward to get access to the lower part of the trunk. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a segmental shaped vertical slot, f, is cut in the sides of the tray frame on opposite sides of the frame, in which the angularly bent ends of the supporting bail or rod f. are inserted and adapted to have a free movement in the same, the bail being prevented from becoming disconnected from the frame by straps, f, screwed to said frame. As shown in Fig. 8, the inner straight wall of the slot extends slightly beyond a perpendicular, as by this construction the lower end of the bail support may rest say one inch to one side of a perpendicular line drawn from the rods pivot point or hinge, down to the floor, and prevented thereby from coming back farther by striking against the inclined wall of the segmental slot. 1 The lower end of the bail may be provided with penetrating points f which will engage the floor or carpet, and thus assist in holding the bail steady. Across the under side of the tray frame near its outer end, it is provided with a groove d, for the reception of the outer or lower end of the bail support, when raised as shown in Fig. 5.

I contemplate dispensing with the tray frame F, as shown in Fig. 6, and in such case, the outer end of the tray would be constructed to completely fill the cut out portion at the end of the trunk, and to give a finished appearance to the other part of the trunk; also the supporting bail would be pivoted directly to the tray, and the guiding and stop means would also be applied directly thereto. The bottom of the outer end of the tray frame, (or of the tray itself when the frame is dispensed with,) is beveled as shown and acounter bevel is made on the upper edge of the cut away portion of the body of the trunk. This bevel is designed to keep out water, and to add to the neat appearance of the trunk when closed.

,There may also be a metal flange in addition.

My invention is very simple in construction, and effective in operation, avoiding all necesit immediately drops down and supports the tray. The tray can now be drawn out, as far as desired, and the supporting rod will remain vertical, supporting the tray. As the tray frame is pushed back into the trunk, the supporting rod remains vertical until its pivot or hinge reaches the end of the trunk, which then engages the supporting rod, and immediately lifts it to a horizontal position, and it disappears into its groove in the bot tom of the tray frame, its action beingin both cases entirely automatic.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a trunk, the combination of a trunk body,a hinged cover pivoted at the rear side of the trunk and provided with adownwardly extending flange, a horizontally sliding tray adapted to be raised vertically from the trunk body before it is drawn out, and which is pre vented from sliding out of the trunk body when the cover is down, by the downwardly extending flange of the trunk cover, substantially as described.

2. In a trunk, the combination of a trunk body provided with supporting guides for a tray, a hinged cover, a horizontally sliding tray which rests and slides upon said guides and is also adapted to belifted verticallyfrom the trunk before it is drawn out from the trunk, and a supporting bail for holding the trayin a horizontal position when drawn out, substantially as described.

3. In a trunk, the combination of the trunk body, a horizontally movable tray frame provided with segmental slots, a tray movable with the tray frame, and a bail provided with angularly bent ends which operate in the segmental shaped slots and are attached to the tray frame, substantially as described.

4. In a trunk, the combination of the trunk body having a portion of its end removed, a horizontally moving tray frame, the outer end of which is adapted to occupy the space ofthe cut-away end portion and form a portion of the outside of the trunk, a tray movable with the tray frame a supporting bail pivoted to the tray frame, a transverse groove on the under side of the front cross bar of the tray frame to receive the lower end of the bail when raised, and a portion cut from the lower inner corner of the top of the trunk to permit the passage of the tray, substantially as described.

5. In a trunk, the combination of a trunk body having supporting guides on its inner surface near its upper edge, a horizontally sliding tray frame which rests and slides on the guides, a tray carried by said frame and havlng a simultaneous movement therewith,

and means for holding the tray. frame and tray in a horizontal position when'they are drawn out, substantially as described.

6. In a trunk provided with a hinged cover, the combination of a trunk body having a portion of its end removed, the upper edge of the cut out end portion being beveled,ahorizontally sliding tray framebeveled on its under side to fit the bevel on the trunk body, a tray carried by said tray frame, and means for for holding the tray frame and tray in a. horizontal position when they are drawn out, substantially as described.

7. In a trunk the combination of the trunk body, supporting guides on the inside of the body near its upper edge for the tray frame toslide on, a horizontally sliding tray frame, a tray supported and movable thereon, alongitudinal swinging bail pivoted to the tray frame and adapted to automatically. drop down and support the tray frame and tray in a horizontal position when they are drawn out, and to be automatically raised out of the way in the act of sliding the tray frame inward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER B. GWYN.

Witnesses i EUG. D. CARTER, H. B. CARTER. 

